Then [Jesus] said to them all, "If anyone wants to come with Me, he must deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow Me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life because of Me will save it. (Luke 9:23-24, HCSB)

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Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Outline of "Pilgrim's Progress," Chapter 7

This spring, the 5th and 6th grade boys Writing & Literature class I am tutoring will be reading John Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress. In preparation for this class, I am re-re-reading the book and constructing a detailed outline for each chapter as I read. The following outline is for Chapter 7 (in the 1991 Tyndale House Edition).

I. Christian and Faithful Meet in the Way

A. Christian ascends a little Hill, which has been placed on the Way for the purpose of allowing pilgrims to see the path before them, and, from the Hill, he sees Faithful journeying ahead of him.

B. Christian calls out to Faithful to wait for him, but Faithful replies that he is running for his life from one pursuing him, so Christian runs to catch up with Faithful, and he even passes by Faithful on the Way.

C. Once Christian passes by Faithful, he begins to gloat, but then he stumbles, and Faithful must help him up.

D. Christian and Faithful continue on the Way together in fellowship, talking about their pilgrimages.

II. News from Home

A. Faithful says he has desired Christian's company since he [Faithful] left the City of Destruction, but since Christian had left ahead of him, Faithful had to travel alone.

B. Faithful says that many people in the City of Destruction had been talking about its impending doom since Christian left, but no one seemed to truly believe that the City of Destruction would fall.

C. Faithful, however, had believed that the City was doomed, and so he made his escape.

D. Christian asks about Pliable; Faithful says that Pliable had returned to the City covered in mud from the Slough of Despond.

E. Though the townspeople had no intention of leaving the City, they mocked, persecuted, and refused to employ Pliable, despising him as a turncoat.

F. Christian and Faithful mourn the apparent self-destruction of Pliable.

III. Faithful's Confrontations with Temptation

A. Wanton

1. Faithful tells Christian that he had escaped the Slough reached the Gate "without much danger."

2. Wanton-- the woman who had "severely tested" Joseph-- attempted to seduce Faithful with "all kinds of pleasure and contentment" coming "from the gratification of carnal and fleshly desires."

3. Faithful closes his eyes to avoid temptation and walks by Wanton, who curses at him.

B. The Old Man

1. An Old Man at the foot of the Hill of Difficulty asks Faithful if he will work for him, offering him his entire inheritance as a reward.

2. The Old Man says that he has three daughters-- the Lust of the Flesh, the Lust of the Eyes, and the Pride of Life-- and that Faithful may marry them if he desires to do so.

3. Faithful sees a verse written on the forehead of the Old Man-- "put off, concerning your former conduct, the Old Man"-- and he rejects the Old Man's offer.

4. The Old Man curses Faithful and says he will send someone to cause him bitterness of soul on his journey.

5. The Old Man takes hold of Faithful's flesh and sharply pulls him backwards; Faithful cries out, "What a wretched man I am!" then he continues up the Hill.